engine starts, immediate stall after timing belt job

[1blink]

I just completed a timing belt job on my 3.4L 3rd gen. (complete kit including tensioner, pulleys, cam and crank seals)

When I tried to start the truck, it turns over, idles at 900rpm for half a second, then dies immediately.

I removed the outer timing cover and visually confirmed the timing marks on the cam and crank pulleys are lined up.

Any suggestions on what to look at next?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Did you plug back in the cam sensors? Anything else unplugged?

 

[Stick Figure]

You plugged in the MAF right?

 

[FancyPantsMcGee]

You plugged in the MAF right?

+1 to this. Double check all your connections and vacuum hoses. a large vacuum leak will cause it to die. If you had something really mixed up like timing teeth off you'd have a whole bank of cylinders misfiring etc, you'd know right away.

 

[1blink]

the only electrical connections i unplugged were the driver side row of spark plugs/wires.

MAF, CPS, and all air hoses were not disconnected during the work

 

[zgensler31]

I once again suggest the Maf. Double check that its plugged in correctly and cleaned the connections. I forgot to plug mine in and it had this exact same symptom. Would fire just fine, no struggle and then die.

 

[1blink]

ok, i pulled the MAF, cleaned the sensor and connectors, still no love

 

[LittleCaesar]

Just curious how you got the top timing cover off without disconnecting the cam position sensor on the front.

Check the EFI relay and all grounds as well.

If the CPS is plugged in, then my bet is that the engine is out of time.

 

[T4RFool]

I would definately double check and make sure the CPS in plugged in all the way. I had mine "plugged" in after a timing belt replacement and had similar problems. Double check and make sure its click in place.

If thats not it, like Little Ceasar said, could be your timing.

 

[mikebontoft]

does it keep running if you get on the gas at all? I did a timing job on a 2UZ and it would start, idle for a second then just die... unless I kept on the gas. went for a drive and it just stopped doing it. didn't understand that one.

 

[1blink]

efi relay tests good.

i pulled the cam position sensor connectors off the timing cover without unplugging the connectors, just slid it off the timing cover and moved it to the side out of the way. I did unbolt the cam sensor, then put it back on after replacing the cam seals.

Visually inspected timing marks again, lines up on both cam marks and the crank mark.

Cam sensor is securely plugged in

 

[T4RFool]

Cam sensor is securely plugged in

what about the crankshaft position sensor

 

[1blink]

have not removed that, removing and testing that will be more difficult, may have to pull the belts and fan to get to it. I am not seeing any MIL, and the truck dies about the same time after starting regardless of throttle position.

testing the crank position sensor will have to wait till tomorrow

 

[mikebontoft]

verify you missed no grounds. I'm not aware of any you need to remove unless the intake manifold came off but either way...

 

[LittleCaesar]

Weird. Possibly the plug wires were switch but that would not cause the engine to die quickly. It is similar to an ignition switch problem my buddy had on his Acura. Just thinking outside the box here.

If you have a compression tester, perform a test. It will tell you if the timing is correct. If you are good there, then it is a fuel or spark problem.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

I know you've said that you think the timing belt is lined up correctly, and that's what we thought when we did mine, but we were wrong. It was off by 4 teeth. Have it checked out.

 

[donkeyhoatie]

Weird. Possibly the plug wires were switch but that would not cause the engine to die quickly. It is similar to an ignition switch problem my buddy had on his Acura. Just thinking outside the box here.

If you have a compression tester, perform a test. It will tell you if the timing is correct. If you are good there, then it is a fuel or spark problem.

+1 on the ignition wire. That's what happened to me. Turns out the owner before me had installed a remote starter that tapped into the ignition wire. Over time, the area where the wires crimped together separated and I must have accidentally pulled them completely loose when I was taking out my MAF for cleaning. Re-soldered the wire and the car stayed running. It might not do it right away if you've flooded the engine, which happened when I was trying to start up the car and apply gas at the onset to keep it going. Give it some time and try it again if you do have to fix the wire.

 

[kakarot]

You might have miss something/forgot something when you put everything back, If I was you I would removed everything and double check the work again to verify the install again.

 

[iowajosh]

There is a ground by the diagnostic box. Won't run without it grounded.

 

[FancyPantsMcGee]

I am in no way questioning your skill level; I just wanted to clearly show the two different timing marks on the crank timing gear. If the belt goes on backwards the lower belt mark will be a few teeth off from the crank mark(dot in 2nd picture).